Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1887-07-30
HOFFMAN, HUNG.


theKxsrezae Penalty 81 the Lsw.
NeprMska city dispatch, AZ iv,St
this morning Sheriff McCailum moved
the lever OF she trap which sent the soul
of David Hoffman into eternity. Hon
man assembled the scaffold a 1870, sup
ported by bis spiritual advisers, the
Rev. Il. PiersOn and the Rev J. Is.
Stuart. His step was firm, though has
countenance Was very haggard As he
stepped upon the platform he cast a
frightened look At the rope dangling
over his right shoulder, and q perceptl'
bic tremor passed over his body. After
q prayer was offered the sheriff asked
Hoffman II be had anything 10 say He
cast his eyes over the crowd around the
seaffold and made an effort 10 speak, but
broke down, the tears streaming from
his ewes He brushed away the tears
and said he had nothing To say When
his hands we're hhndeuffed behind him
and the moose placed around his meek
he again tremblel and would have fallen
had he not been caught by a deputy,
BY an effort he regained has
usual compOsnre until after
the black cap Was put on, and the
trap sprung quickly At 1924 His body
shot downward through the opening, re
bounding a little as the rope frightened
around his neck. The muscles Of the
body contracted, the knees were slightly
drawn up and the fesh qeiyered The
arms we're pressed outward and the
hands elasped and unelasped, but not 4
sound was heard 10 issue from beneath
the cap. In eight and One-half minutes
after the trap fell his pulse ceased 70
beat and he was pronounced dead, hls
neck having been broken by the fall
The body was cut down and turned
over 10 the undertaken, Who took il 70
UnAdilla this afternoon for burial
Everything PASSED off quietly and
smoothly and the best 81 order prevailed
Company b, Of the Nebraska National
Guards we're ordered out is the gov
ernor and were on duty around the
court house from o. N. until ~ M.
Hoffman was attircd IN a neat, Well-tit-
ting suit Of plain black clothes, was
shaver smoothly and appeared In good
health
Hoffman passed comfortable night,
retiring about 80, and was soon sleep
ing s0uadly, and did not awake until
about $50 this morning. He expressed
a wish 70 have his brother Timothy
sleep with him, but changed his mind
after his brother had signified his willing
ness, thinking that he eogild, perhaps,
rest better il alone. He ordered his
usual breakfast and asked for some
fruit, which was furnished him, he ata
sparingly OF some bananas and oranges.
The remainder Of the time he spent in
giving a final farewell to his brothers
and friends and listening 10 the death
warrant, which was read 10 him at $40.
HISTORY OF TIE CRIME.
On the llth day Of April, lss7, Dayhl
Hoffman was sentenced by Judge Chap
man to be hanged on the I'D day OF July.
the hours Of a. m. and . O'Clock
P. N. The crime for which he was SEN
fenced was the wTecking Of the Missouri
Pacific passenger train, one mile nogth Of
Dunbar, in this county. on the iita day Of
January last, al il:30 o'clock. The evi-
ience addaced at the trial showed that
turing the evening and night Of the wreck
Hoffman and James Bell, an aceompliee,
we're about Dunbar drinking freely, and
Ehile both men were drunk Bell was By
ar the most intoxicated Of the two. About
1870 the men started TO 20 TO the house. Of /
John Hoffman, q brother Of Dawes, who
ired few rods north Of the scene Of the
wreck, to stay all night. On the way 10 I
John HOnman's il was believed the das.
ardly plot to ditch the train, COR the par-
'ose Of robbery, was conceived. About
ne-half Of a mile south OF where
he train was ditehcd, on the
burlington < Missouri road, stands tool
ouse belonging 10 that read. This was
roken into BY the plotters and the neees-
AIRY tools, wrench and claw bar, with
Ihich 10 remove the fish plates and spikes.
aiken. The ground was well picked where
he train should be ditehed. A rail on the
Duth side Of the track, within few ice.
a forty foot embankment, was looscned
nd moved q few inches toward the center
the track. soon the train came thunder.
ig along at forty mile rate. and when
be break was reached the engine ana
Daches thumped along on the ties a few
,et and
PLUNGED OyEE,
he engine on its top near the track, tbs
oaches on their sides a few feet down
be embankment, and the baggage ear on
$ side in the creek forty feet below. The
ngineer, james y. De Witt. was killed ne
is post, the throttle lever passing through
is body and several inches into tho
round. The baggageman, Frank Cheno-
18th, was seriously injured. and has nsvsr
this day fully recovered, and probably
ever VIII. The Coroner empanslled q
lry at an early hour the next morning and
lonInan was one Of the first
Illnesses called. His testimony
ayered, and he crossed himself
frequently that the coroner ordered him
rrested and shortly after Bell was arrested ,
nder the same Suspicious circumstances.
9th testified to starting home a short time !
eiore the train was due and that Bell was +
drunk he could not walk. During 4
arch, J. b. Tut and party Of NJ. II. 4
electives came to this city, with the assist 4
zee OF the sheriff and his deputy, took the n
ls0ners, one at time, to a room in the /,
rand Pacific hotel, and by means Of bluf.
lg and trickery
PROCURED A CONFESSION
'm each. Each confessed 20 having been
the scene, but stated that the other wa s
iilty Of removing the rail. AT the Anil 1,
run Of court they were indicted for murder :
the first degree, and Hoffman nut ON y
al first. After ali the circumstantiai n